Assessing citizen science methods in IWRM for a new science shop: a bibliometric approach

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to detect scientific activities in the field of “water resources management” that include citizen science methods, using a bibliometric approach. The analysis aims at supporting the start of a new science shop based at the University of Brescia, Italy, in the framework of the European SciShops project. As the backdrop for science shops and community-based participatory research initiatives, citizen science is the focus of an increasing number of local, national and international activities, many of which are reported in the scientific literature available in the Web of Science. The results show that studies and publications on this topic, with a participatory perspective, are increasing. Australia, The Netherlands and Spain have a higher production than expected. The scarcity of Italian studies, especially on sustainable urban drainage, shows a promising field of work for future activities of the new science shop at Brescia.